Compound for producing flash-light



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALEXANDER l-IEMSLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNS YLVANIA.

COMPOUND FOR PRODUCING FLASH-LIGHT SIEECIFICATIONiorming partnt' Letters Patentllo:407,351,-dated"al'uly23,1889.

Application filed May 4, 1888. Serial No. 272,783. (No specimens.)

It is well known that photographs can be taken without the presence of natural or day light by means of an artificial light produced by burning metallic magnesium either in the shape or form of wire, ribbo'ns,"or' filings in oxygen, whether supplied in the form of gas or, by means of the decomposition of chlorate of potassa, the light being of sufficient intensity or actinic .power for producing a photograph, In practice I have found that other chlorates of the metals-such asstrontium,

magnesium, barium, copper, &c.may be used to produce by ignition an orthochromatic effect similar to that produced by a speciallyprepared plate used with an interposed colored screen. The main objection to the use of the chlorates of the metals is their liability to explode violently by friction or concussion, thereby making it exceedingly dangerous to use such for producing a light in photography.

The principal object of my invention is to proyide an improved compound or mixture that may be handled with perfect safety and without the danger of explosion by friction or concussion, while at the same time readily ignitible for producing an instantaneous flash-light especially applicable to photography, whereby pictures of persons in evening costumes may be readily obtained, and for use as an illumina-tor for dull daylight exposures, the duration of exposure by its use being but the fractional part of a second. Then in its use harsh lights and abrupt shadows maybe entirely obviated. Furthermore, it becomes possible in the use thereof to reproduce engravings and pictures in white and black with most excellent results due to the sharp and distinctive character of the illumination produced. Then, furthermore, the various colorssuch, for instance, as the reds and the yellows (mother tints.' usually translated black may be represented in their proper or true relations in the photograph, and also making itpossible to reproduce oil-paintings with result." not heretofore obtained. v

My invention consists in mechanically or otherwise mixing amorphous phosphorus and one or more of the nitrates of the metals or of the alkaline earths in variable proportions, as lead, potassium, sodium, barium, lithium, cal cium, strontium, magnesium, &c., after reduction to an impalpablepowder or pulverized mass, with metallic magnesium or other metal or metalsin a-powdercd or finely rdi'vidcd state or condition, and then compressing the mixture or compound into a past-i1, pellet, pill, or other desired figure or form for use in the productionby ignition of an instantaneous flash or other light capable of efiectinga photogra-phic action upon sensitive surfaces.

In order that my invention may be fully understood by those skilled in the art to-which it appert-ains, I will now proceed more particularly to describe its characteristic features and the results incident to the use thereof.

In carrying out my invention the following formula may be given for the preparation of the compound as a good working one. StillI do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact proportions of the materials given, as each may be varied and still obtain good results in the compounding of them.

I take, say, seventy parts, by weight, (more or less,) of anitrate or nitrates-such as barium, strontium, lead, &c.either alone or in the form of an'admixture of one or more of them, and ten parts, by weight, (more or less,) of amorphorous phosphorus reduced to a powdered state, and twenty parts, by weight, (more or less,) of metallic magnesium or other suit-. able metal-reduced to a finely-divided state in the form, for instance, of an impalpable powder, and these materials I then mechanically mix together in either a dry or wet state or condition by the use of alcohol or other suitable liquid not containing oxygen, be-

. tionis less-rapid, although more so than if [neither sulphur or amorphous phosphorus lioness l pressed into pastils, pellets, or pills for use by ignition to produce an incandescent flashlight.

vt ion comprehends' the use of the compound either in-the'form of a powder or in a compressed .form,;as' pastils, pellets, pills, (lac.

The amorphous phosphorus is ,tion and thorough onoomple'fe combustion, and conseenently a diminution of the smoke -enfifmes arising from the combustionot the compound. i

The red or amorphous phosphorus I have found in practice better adapted for the purpose than the ordinary yellow phosphorus.

The main'objeot of employing amorphous phosphorusin combination with the nitrates of the metals or alkaline earths in preference to the chlorates or other substances capable of yielding oxygen: is that it liberates with rapidity the oxygen from the nitrates, thereby furnishing a copious supply of oxygen gas essential for the ignition of the metallic magnesinmto cause the resultant magnesium OX1 ide tube brought to a high state of incandescence, and which is necessary for the production of; a'continuous spectrum rich in those chemical rays on vibrations which have ,the

power of "uniting photographic action upon specially-prepared surfaces.

The amorphous "phosphorus could be repleced by'sulphur, but not advantageously,

hesiause while its action isthe same the igniwasjused in the compound. The simple admixture of a nitrate and a-metal in'a' state of minute division to form a compound would produce one that would explode when ignited,

V v r principally used in the compound to promoterapid ignf Then the chlorates Iprefernot to useffo rtm same reason that they are not used'in the manufacture of gunpowder, whichjisiprincipally because of their liability-to explode by friction or concussion.

In the prepara tion of a compound composed of cadmium nit-rate and-metallic magnesium I havefound'in' practice that such a. compound will explode spontaneously; and inav-few mo: I desire it to be understood that my invenments after the admixtur'eof thenriand with out the introduction of either sulphur or phos phorus. 1 w 1 o 5 f The bestr e s lts I'have b'btained'by mixing; ashereiubefore described, amorphous phos' phorus and one-or Imore of themtrates oi the metals or the alkalin e-earthswitli metallic magnesium, and have produced it compound which could be handled with safety, and'at the same time be readilyignited to. cause a a flash-light of very high intensity-or incan descence, and one which has given excellent results in its application to instantaneous photography, and especially for bringing out io' rthochromatic effects in the picture.

Having thus described'thenature and objects-of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to fs'ecu re by Letters Patent, is

1.. A compound for producing a'momenta rily intense flashlight, composed of magne sium, one or." more oxygen-yielding salts of the metals or alkaline earths, and 'phospho rus, substantially as and tor the purposes t forth. g

2. A compoundv for producinga flash-light for photographic-purposes, composed ofpow dered or granulated metallic magnesium,one

or more nitrates, and amorphous phosphorus, 'substantiallyasgdescribedr In witness whereof I fhave hereunto set signature in the-presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

I En n EiRH ISLEYI Witnessesz HERMANN BORMANN,

Enw. E; (JULLEN; 

